ONCE UPON A TIME.

21. décisions

     ⌜ cedric ¦ amata ⌟ 

     "SO, WHO'S THE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE YOU DOLTS ARE TAKING TO THE BALL?"

     Underneath the warm noontime sun, the triplets lounge lazily by a Beech tree on the edge of the Black Lake. "I met a lovely voman the other day," Antioch announces. Before either of his sisters can tease him about it, he barrels on. "She is too young for me. But ve have riveting conversations. She will be my ' friendly ' date."

     "Evidently, Fleur is leaving dozens of broken 'earts in 'er wake," Altheda jumps in with a giggle. "One in particular asked her out of ze blue and was so gutted zat I ended up asking him myself!"

     Antioch rolls his eyes as Amata scrunches up her face in disdain. "Charity case." Amata points out, to which Altheda clutches her chest as though mockingly taking offense.

     "I did get to know 'im afterwards." Altheda shoots back. "Although, 'is name 'is quite funny. Weasle." Unable to stifle her laugh, Amata finds herself in the curious eye of her sister. "Red hair, battered robes?" Amata asks. "It's Weasley, 'Theda. Their whole family goes to Hogwarts."

     "Merlin, did you ask all his siblings to the ball?" Antioch teases. "I would like to think not." Amata says with an indignant sniffle. "But enough about me. What of you, Amata?"

     "What of me?" Amata echoes in a bored tone. "Vell, obviously, she is not going." Antioch says. In turn, Altheda shoots Amata a look as if the idea is absolutely scandalous.

     Amata doesn't know what would be worse: to admit that no one has asked her out, or to tell them that she has neither of their courage to ask anyone. Her friends were pairing off and she couldn't think of anyone in particular she wanted to go with, except . . .

    "Has Cedreec not asked you yet?" Altheda asks, almost sympathetic in her tone of voice. Amata lets out a sound between a snort of laughter and a disbelieving retort. "He doesn't see me that way." she says defensively.

     Antioch and Altheda look to each other but say nothing. "You know I hate it when you two do that." Amata groans, falling back in to the grass. The other two follow, their fingertips barely touching as they squint at the sky.

     "I think 'e really likes you, you know?" Altheda offers softly. "Sure, and mum and dad are moving back to England soon so we can all finally be one big, happy family." Amata replies cuttingly.

     Her words weigh heavy. None of the three say anything for a while, not daring to tread the ice, until Amata sighs and breaks the silence. "He really doesn't . . . like like me. Not enough to ask, anyway."

     "You are not always vrong, Amata," Antioch pipes up. "But take it from me. This time, you are."

     The sound of nearing footsteps silences the trio again. Viktor Krum, with poorly concealed amusement, stares down at the triplets. "I vould hate to interrupt," the Bulgarian says politely. "But I vas hoping I could steal Amata away for a moment."

    As Amata sits up to follow Viktor, Antioch shiftlessly waves up at his school mate. Viktor acknowledges this with a nod before he and Amata stalk off together.

     "Will 'e ask 'er?" Altheda asks hopefully.

     "Dunno." is all Antioch grants his sister. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     CEDRIC STILL CAN'T GET Maxine and his' conversation out of his head. All the way back to the castle, he had been thinking of her words and the odds she'd stacked for Amata.

     He didn't fancy Amata. To be fair, he didn't really fancy Cho Chang much either; she was a Quidditch fanatic, and Cedric was enamored by her beauty, yes, but otherwise, Cedric didn't know anything else about her. To be fair, he probably knew Amata better . . .

     Glancing down at the bouquet of flowers he'd purchased at Hogsemade, Cedric can't help but wonder. Was he about to ask the wrong person?

     Rounding a corner, Cedric stops dead in his tracks. 

     Amata and Viktor are out on the Courtyard. The two seem to be in deep conversation, and Viktor as visibly nervous; Amata says something, even going as far as placing an assuring hand on his shoulder, and Viktor lights up. He swoops her in to a hug.

     Cedric spins on his heel and makes to practically bolt away when he almost - quite literally - topples over Cho Chang.

     "Oh!" the Ravenclaw cries out, visibly flustered. "I'm so sorry, Cedric."

     For once, she isn't with her gaggle of girlfriends. Good, Cedric thinks. Easier for me. 

     "Don't be sorry." Cedric says, trying to laugh off the angry drumbeat in his chest. "Actually, Cho, I was just about to look for you . . ."